# Genetic Design Could Move from State Programs to Individual Decisions by Robert L. Sinsheimer > “In contrast, the new eugenics could, at least in principle, be implemented on a quite individual basis, in one generation, and subject to no existing social restrictions.” > **— Robert L. Sinsheimer**, *1969, “The Prospect of Designed Genetic Change,” Engineering and Science* ## Sources and Context - **Primary full text:** [Caltech's April 1969 *Engineering and Science* publication](https://calteches.library.caltech.edu/2718/), p. 12. Batch 5 stopped after “one generation”; the full sentence here restores the final clause. Sinsheimer contrasted a proposed new genetic intervention with older coercive, multigenerational eugenics programs. His phrase “at least in principle” matters: it describes a perceived future mechanism, not a verified 1969 capability. - **Parallel publication:** [Caltech Library's record of *American Scientist* 57(1), pp. 134–142](https://authors.library.caltech.edu/records/17a7j-rka34), under the title “The Prospect **for** Designed Genetic Change.” The surrounding “fit” and “unfit” language belongs to Sinsheimer's 1969 argument; the Reminder foregrounds his proposed shift from state programs to individual decisions. ## Related Articles and Collections - **Collection:** [[collections/Simple Reminders|Simple Reminders]] - **Article:** [[articles/We Were Never Going to Make It|We Were Never Going to Make It]] - **Wiki map:** [[wiki/Eugenics|Eugenics]] ## Related Topics - [[wiki/Robert L. Sinsheimer|Robert L. Sinsheimer]] - [[wiki/The Prospect for Designed Genetic Change|The Prospect for Designed Genetic Change]] - [[wiki/Eugenics|Eugenics]] - [[wiki/Embryo Selection|Embryo Selection]] ## Share on Social Media ``` “In contrast, the new eugenics could, at least in principle, be implemented on a quite individual basis, in one generation, and subject to no existing social restrictions.” — Robert L. Sinsheimer, 1969, The Prospect of Designed Genetic Change https://bryantmcgill.com/simple-reminders-sinsheimer-genetic-design-individual-decisions ```